“They're Rotten, Purple Like The Color of Bad Meat; They're a Purple Gang”
Adam Tatar
Dr. Parsons
Duquesne University
The crackle of machine gun fire, shattered glass and bloodstain floors were common themes in Detroit during the 1920s and 30s, mostly associated with one group. The Purple Gang, a group of mostly Jewish Americans, terrorized Detroit’s underworld crime world with never before seen precision. The Bernstein brothers led the gang; Abe, Joe, Raymond and Isadore along with many of the brothers close friends, who they befriended while attending The Old Bishop School.
(Purple Gang members Abe and Raymond Bernstein, Abe Axler and Harry Keywell)
These men who were at one time, simply
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petty thieves revolutionized the common perception of the “Gangster”. The Purple Gang’s origins can be closely connected to the boy’s aspirations to become wealthy similarly to the elder gangsters who employed the boys. Although popular culture and even the FBI focused primarily on the gang activity in Chicago and New York, The Purple Gang of Detroit should be given more publicity based on their role in trafficking of bootlegged alcohol, unprecedented use of violence and unique structure. The Purple Gang’s most important source of revenue was the sale and distribution of illegal liquor during Prohibition. Detroit was the first major city to become a “Dry City” with the passage of the Damon Act in 1917. As a result of the restrictions placed upon the people began to adjust their lives in order to combat these restrictions, which as a result made for Detroit to be much more profitable once the national Prohibition Laws went into place. The 18th Amendment stated that all distribution, sale and manufacturing of alcohol was illegal , yet one pitfall of the 18th Amendment can be attributed to the prior failures of the state legislation, lack of strict enforcement which allowed for people to make the necessary changes to allow themselves to be able to smuggle liquor into the country. During the following years after Prohibition was enacted, the widespread corruption worsened rising as high as the Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty and Bureau Director William J. Burns. As a result of the widespread corruption, government agencies were forced to divert efforts away from stopping these men, allowing for the Purple’s to expand their influence. As a result of these prior advances by the residents of Detroit, Prohibition was able to boost the economy of Detroit, as in 1929 the bootlegging industry was the second highest industry, second only to the automotive industry .
As a result of preparation, the Purple Gang was able to exploit these failures and transform Detroit into the hub of alcohol trade. In terms of the effect which the Purple Gang had on the national spotlight for their influence in the alcohol distribution reached as high as the House of Representatives. Journalist Walter Liggett in his testimony describing the role prohibition’s failure impacted Detroit stated,
“… That not only did this act result in wholesale crime, more drunkenness, more debauchery, disorder of every sort, but it was directly responsible, everywhere… for corruption of high officials, for the hypocrisy of high
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officials.” From this we can see that not only were the police and politicians blatantly breaking the laws, which they were meant to be enforcing. From this it becomes clear that the gang was fearless of bringing in the liquor when so many prominent figures were the ones consuming and using the bootlegged alcohol. The deputy administrator for prohibition in Detroit, A.B. Stroup was quoted as criticizing on the effects of the Purple Gang in Detroit, “Detroit is the wettest city I have been assigned to. I have worked in several parts of the country and observed conditions carefully, and I can say without hesitation that nowhere else is the law so openly violated as it is here” 4 In attempt to maintain their secrecy, members of the gang were adamant on maintaining their gang association and it was not until 1927 when the media began to catch on and call the gang “Purple”. As a result of this the gang was able to act without fear of the gang being forced into ratting one another out for their illegal activity. Through this, it is clear that the “Purples” employed the mantra of silence and to never reveal other members. This silence made it difficult for police enforcement to distinguish that was a true member compared to that was an associate. This is shown through in different police files such as transfer papers from different prisons, in which the officers are uncertain if one of the members who are currently incarcerated is in fact a member of the gang. One may ask, how Detroit became the hub for the bootlegged liquor over major cities such as Chicago and New York and the clear answer is geography. Detroit’s proximity to Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River, which connects to Canada, provided the perfect place for the rumrunners to transport the alcohol from Canada into the United States. Although this tactic made the gang fugitives in the United States and Canada, their unrelenting will was quite impressive. The Purple Gang also created fake business such as, the Art Novelty Company for the sole purpose of interstate distribution of the liquor from Canada. Being able to have a front for their lucrative business the Purples were able to expand their empire into other major cities. Not only did this front allow for more revenue but more publicity in the underworld. As early as 1926, Notorious Chicago Gangster Al Capone wanted to strong arm the Purple Gang, a tactic that he was never able to accomplish in large part due to Purple Gang leader Raymond Bernstein. Having Capone in the gang’s back pocket, the Purple’s were able to expand their distribution area. Not only was the game able to reap the financial benefits, but also the influence of the group boomed. The connection with Capone would only expand as time went on. Being able to have one of the most notorious men in the country submit to their authority was the gang’s first of many pinnacles. A major reason for the success of the Purple Gang was the “Little Jewish Navy” which consistent of men expelled from Chicago by Capone.
The Bernstein’s welcomed with open arms into their organization Herman “Hymie “ Paul, Joseph “Nigger Joe” Lebovitz and Joseph “Izzy” Sutker in 1926. Having a new group of members allowed for the group to expand their enterprises as the “Little Jewish Navy” was the main source of the Purple Gang’s alcohol, which they would strong arm different petty rum runners into submission. These men would also use speedboats for a more effective means to transport the liquor. With the ease of distribution of alcohol expanding more groups began to rely on the Purple’s resources including many different Italian groups who needed a more reliable source, following the assault of a Prohibition Official. Not only did the new clientele provide an increase source of revenue, but also the legend of the Purple Gang began to
grow. Now that the Purple Gang had a new source of revenue, the desire to protect their turf and wealth was never greater. The Purple Gang was ruthless with their use of violence so much that prominent Jazz musician Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow who was friends with both the Capone outfit and the Purple Gang when asked about the differences between the two stated, “ The Purple Gang was a hard lot of guys, so tough they made Capone’s playmates look like a Kindergarten class” . Even though the national media did not recognize the gang’s violence as much as the other major cities it was clear that, crossing the Purples was a death wish. Although they were never convicted the Detroit Police department suspected the Purple Gang of over 500 murders during the height of their power, a large part due to the police’s inability to receive testimonies from witness who themselves were fearful of being “taken for a ride” by the Gang.
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